RSPA
2-03
Thursday, January 30, 2003
Contacts: James Mitchell
Joe Delcambre
Tel.: (202)
366-4831
RSPA Delivers on Gas Pipeline Safety with Integrity Management
A rule to improve the
safety and reliability of natural gas pipelines has been proposed by the U.S.
Department of Transportation’s Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA).
RSPA’s Office of Pipeline Safety
is the federal authority for the safety of the nation’s 2.3 million miles of
natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.
The proposed rule is designed to identify the best methods for
maintaining the structural soundness, or integrity, of pipelines.
“Pipeline
safety is a top priority of RSPA, and we are delivering results,” said
Ellen G. Engleman, RSPA administrator. “Continuous
improvement in pipeline integrity management is essential to ensuring public
confidence in the safety and reliability of our nation’s growing pipeline
infrastructure.”
This
proposed rulemaking incorporates the integrity management mandates of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act, signed into law last Dec. 17.
Under
this rule, pipeline operators would face stringent requirements for testing and
repair. They would have to
comprehensively evaluate their pipelines and take measures to protect those
segments where failure could impact populated areas.
For two
years, RSPA has been conducting research to validate the effectiveness of direct
assessment, a technology that can be used in pipelines that cannot be internally
inspected. This proposed rule
defines direct assessment procedures for the first time.
A
lesson learned from recent pipeline accidents is that better use of available
information can prevent accidents. Under this rule, operators would
improve protections to their pipelines based on information evaluated within
required integrity management programs that are subject to RSPA review.
RSPA proposes to monitor performance with specified measures.
RSPA is now overseeing how operations of
hazardous liquid pipelines implement integrity management rules issued
previously.
RSPA
has public responsibilities for safe, reliable and secure movement of hazardous
materials to industry and consumers, by all transportation modes including the
nation=s pipelines; rapid response to emergencies by
government agencies; training for transportation safety professionals; and
applying science and technology to meet national transportation needs.
The
Notice of Proposed Rule Making was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 28,
2003 for a 60-day public comment period as
Docket No. RSPA-00-7666; Notice 4.
For
additional information: go to RSPA website www.rspa.dot.gov,
or contact James.Mitchell@rspa.dot.gov
or Gordon.Delcambre@rspa.dot.gov.
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